Southern Charm : A BWWM Cowboy Romance

by Tiana Cole

  They finished their meal, with Tommy redirecting the conversation away from Barbara. They lapsed into a discussion of where they had each grown up and their lives as they currently were.

  Once again, Cecilia found Tommy to be a nice guy, but he was hardly dating material. Rather than letting things drag out, Cecilia was honest with him when he took her home and walked her to the door.

  “Listen, Tommy. I’ve enjoyed the last couple of nights, but I just don’t think you and I are a good fit. I just want to be honest and not waste your time,” she told him.

  “I was expecting that. I was surprised you went out with me in the first place. It seemed at first like you might be a little bit taken with Jack, but I guess you are more of the city boy type,” he said.

  “I guess I am,” she replied with a smile. He shrugged and waited while she unlocked her door.

  “Goodnight, pretty lady. I’ll see you at work,” he said, seeming not too offended at all by her rejection. She was glad there was no ugliness to deal with both now or hopefully later on the job.

  The next morning at work, she went into the office slowly, expecting another round of questions from Jack about her date with Tommy the night before, but she sighed in relief when she found it empty. She set down her things before sliding the office chair behind the computer and getting to work.

  A few hours later, her stomach rumbled loudly, reminding her that she had missed lunch, again, as she looked at the clock to see it was already after noon. Just as Cecilia was about to stand to go and grab something, Jack strode through the door.

  “Hi, I…uh...” He paused for a moment, then quickly held out a brown paper bag with the Italian café’s logo on it. “I wanted to apologize for yesterday. You’re right of course, it’s none of my business. You can date Tommy or whoever else you want to.” He blushed slightly, not meeting her gaze as he said the last.

  Cecilia smiled softly at him, taking the bag. She opened, inhaling the delicious smells of fresh pasta and soup emanating out of it. Sometimes, she really did think he was psychic, knowing what she needed before she did.

  “Thanks so much, Jack. That’s really nice of you.”

  He just shrugged, his way of accepting her thanks, and she continued. “It doesn’t matter anyways, thought.”

  “Oh, and why is that?”

  “Well, things didn’t really work out between us. Me and Tommy, I mean.” Cecilia turned away, aware of the heat of the blush turning her normally dark cheeks scarlet at her confession.

  “Really? Oh,” He cleared his throat, trying to sound nonchalant. “That’s, uh, that’s really too bad.”

  Gratefully, she took the lunch he had brought her, thanking him once more before he left, saying that he had some things that needed to be seen to out on the ranch.

  All the tension between them seemed to melt after that, and Jack started chatting to her more, making an effort to be friendly. And that was all it was, she had to keep reminding herself, when she would catch herself staring up into his deep blue eyes.

  They once again feel into a comfortable rhythm with each other, sharing work and conversation with ease. If there were a few moments when she wished it could be more, she pushed them away, keeping her focus on her job and being professional no matter how difficult Jack made it at times.

  A couple of weeks later, she found herself atop a horse. Tommy had been true to his word and had not tried to make anything awkward between them, but he had still remained friendly, offering to help her learn to ride one day after work. Once she was pretty comfortable with the horse, he had let her take off on her own across a back pasture.

  Things were going just fine until the horse became spooked by something beneath its feet and threw her onto the ground. She curled up in a ball as he stomped around her at whatever had upset him. Afraid to move lest one of his hooves come down on her, she tried to just remain still in hopes he would avoid her, but she feared the worst.

  Suddenly, she was aware of him getting pulled away by the reigns as Jack hurried off the back of the horse on which he had been making rounds. He quickly had the horse in check and tied it to a nearby fence post before hurrying back over to check on her.

  “Are you okay?” he said, looking her over for injuries.

  “I’m okay,” she ran her hands over herself, checking for anything broken, her voice shaky. She could see bruises and scratches on her arms from hitting the ground and from rocks beneath her as she cowered beneath the horse. Her pride was more shattered than anything physical.

  “Let’s get you back. I’ll have someone collect the horse,” he said, helping her up onto the back of the Appaloosa he had been riding when he saw her. They made their way slowly back to the office, her heart still beating wildly in her chest from the near-death experience. This was the second time Jack had saved her. It was getting late and she felt too shaky to drive, but she needed to get home.

  “Thank you, Jack. I am going to try to get myself home,” she told him, standing on legs that were still shaky. It took a few tries to get them working again. Apparently, he didn’t miss the slight wobble when she stood.

  “I don’t think so, Cecilia. Listen, I have a spare bedroom at the house. Why don’t you just crash there tonight instead of driving back to the city?” He looked at her, his deep blue eyes concerned and questioning.

  Cecilia thought about it for a moment. It would be so easy to accept, but she didn’t know what repercussions there would be if she lived in such close proximity. Working with the handsome man was hard enough at times, but what would happen if she stayed in his house, just down the hall from him? Or maybe even right next door?

  Some of her trepidation must have showed on her face as she answered.

  “I appreciate it, Jack, but it doesn’t seem appropriate for you to have an employee staying at your house.” She thought it was a pretty valid argument, even though she couldn’t tell him the real reason behind her reservations.

  “You mean a female employee,” he laughed. “I don’t care about all that rubbish. You are obviously still a little shaky from that whole episode. You will be fine there for one night.”

  She took a few steps, just to prove to herself that she could drive herself home just fine, but a stumble had him reaching out to catch her, and her decision was made.

  Cecilia finally agreed to stay and she walked up to the house with him, feeling a bit awkward about what someone might think if she'd been spotted with him. Though she had never been one to worry about what other people might think of her, she still didn’t want to be subjected to unnecessary inaccurate gossip among other employees. She quickly dismissed thoughts of that as he made dinner for them, after which they settled in together for a movie. Although they sat on opposite ends of the sofa, she still found it nice to spend time with him in such close quarters, even though they didn’t really talk much about anything of consequence.

  “That was the oddest movie I’ve seen in a while,” Jack commented as he clicked the television off.

  “I’d have to agree,” she replied. “It wasn’t bad though, just not really what I would have expected to happen.”

  “Things rarely turn out like we expect though, do they?” he asked, and there was something in his voice that made it sound like he was talking about something more than just a movie.

  “I suppose that is true,” she replied, wondering if there was more meaning to it than that.

  She felt a little tingle at being there alone with him and found herself halfway hoping he would try to kiss her, but he didn’t seem even slightly interested in doing so. Instead, he showed her to the spare room and told her he would see her in the morning. She closed the door and looked around the room. Like the rest of the house, it was well decorated in natural earth tones, and she found herself wondering if he had inherited it that way or if perhaps Barbara had decorated it for him. She didn’t see him as the type to do it himself or that he would hire a decorator, but then again, she had been surprised by his cooking
both times she had eaten with him. He had laid a pair of sweats and a t-shirt on the bed, his, based on the size of them. She changed into them and laughed at how big they were on her considerably smaller frame.

  Chapter Six

  The following morning she awoke to the smell of bacon wafting in from the kitchen. She smoothed her hair down and made her way in to where he stood cooking. He was still in his pajama pants and a fitted shirt that only enhanced his rippling muscles that much more.

  She averted her eyes quickly as he turned to greet her, hoping he hadn’t noticed. The small smile on his face told her that he probably had, but she played it off.

  “Your usual drink?” she asked.

  “That would be great,” he replied, turning back to his food preparation as she went to the cabinet to pour orange juice for the two of them. Taking a seat at the opposite side of the island, she sat watching while he finished breakfast. Despite her being in his house in his clothes, he still seemed all business as he filled her plate with bacon, eggs, and toast and pushing containers of butter and jam in her direction for her to use if desired.

  “This is delicious. I never make breakfast for myself,” she gratefully acknowledged, as she took another bite, barely stopping the moan at the taste.

  “Why not?” he asked.

  “Just seems like a waste to make it for one person, and I’m usually rushing around trying to get dressed. Sometimes I stop down at the little breakfast place near the house and grab something to go, but most of the time, I just eat a banana and wait until lunch,” she told him.

  “That is a horrible way to treat yourself,” he replied.

  “I know, but I live so far out and it’s such a long drive into work with traffic and all,” she told him between bites of food.

  “Do you own the little duplex you live in?” he asked.

  “No. I rent it, but my lease is up. I was thinking about trying to find something closer in. Doesn’t seem to be a lot of choices in this area for apartments and such though. Mostly just houses that are too big for me,” she said.

  Jack paused for a minute, opening his mouth as if he was about to speak before going back to finishing the last few bites on his plate. A few moments later, he opened his mouth again.

  “Well, that is why I am asking. I don’t think I’ve ever taken you on a full tour of the grounds, but in case you haven’t noticed, there is a small guesthouse out back,” the words came out in a rush and he said them while still looking down at his plate.

  “I guess I noticed it. I just didn’t realize that is what it was,” she replied slowly, not sure where he was going with this.

  “I thought you might be interested in moving into it,” he told her.

  “What? Why?” she asked.

  “Well, you need a place closer. It’s empty, so why not?” he shrugged, the words nonchalant even if his tone wasn’t.

  “How much are you going to charge me for rent?” she asked as she turned toward him. Finally he looked up at her.

  “Nothing. It’s yours as part of an employment deal,” he told her.

  “Listen, Jack, I appreciate the offer, but if you are trying to make up for what happened in the barn or something, you don’t have to. It’s okay,” she told him, realizing this might be his way of making amends.

  “No, not at all. Maggie lived there. It was part of her original employment package with my grandfather. I didn’t offer it to you with your employment because, well, I’ll be honest. I knew that Barbara would go ballistic and I didn’t want her to bother you. Fat lot of good that did me to worry about. She attacked you anyway,” he frowned as he said it, as if the words had conjured up the memories of the attack several weeks ago.

  “I don’t know, Jack. It seems like a lot. You are already paying me quite well,” she told him, but her mind was already racing with the possibilities.

  ***

  “You’ve already improved things so much, Cecilia. You deserve it. How can you say no? It’s free rent and I’ll even toss in breakfast on mornings you care to come eat with me,” he smiled at her, and his dimples flashed at her, making her want to just give in and say yes. He glanced at her once more before finishing his food and taking his plate to the sink. He walked back over and extended his hands toward her plate and she handed it to him over the breakfast bar.

  Cecilia’s eyes narrowed as she looked at him. What was this really about? Was it his way of keeping an eye on her so that she didn’t get too close to Tommy? Was he some sort of jealous freak who didn’t want her but didn’t want someone else to have her?

  All sorts of odd scenarios ran through her mind and were quickly discounted in favor of the only one that made sense. Jack was lonely. Based on what Tommy had told her over dinner, he had to be gun shy and the incident with Barbara probably just reinforced a fear of the unknown. Perhaps he just wanted her near because he like having her there. Was that reading too much into the situation?

  “Let’s take a look at this place. I’m not moving into some hunting lodge-looking place from the fifties,” she laughed.

  “Oh, it’s not like that at all. It’s much, much worse,” he told her.

  “I hope you’re kidding,” she replied.

  “I’m not. It is very outdated, but some fresh paint and new décor should take care of that. Is your current place furnished?” he asked.

  “No. Everything in it belongs to me,” she replied.

  “There you have it then, we can do a little freshening up and you can move your own things in. It’ll be just like you dropped your old place right here on the ranch,” he told her.

  “We will see,” she replied. “Let me get dressed. I’m going to be late for work as it is and my boss is horrible.”

  “Yeah, I’ve heard that about him,” he laughed. “Go. I’ll take care of these dishes and get myself dressed too. You can use the shower in your room. There should be everything you need already in there. When you’re ready, we’ll go out there before we go to the office.”

  A half hour later, they were headed out back to look at the guest house. He wasn’t kidding when he said it was in need of a few touch ups. The furniture was definitely the shabby chic of an old woman and it smelled a bit of mothballs. The paint was dingy and the bathroom looked like something from a Leave It To Beaver rerun.

  “Oh yeah, this is truly deplorable,” she told him.

  “Yes, but it has potential, right?” he said, sounding hopeful.

  “I can see some possibilities, but the question is how much you are willing to do to it to gain me as a tenant?” she asked.

  “What are your demands?” he inquired, listening as she made a list of what she felt were reasonable requests.

  “Done,” he replied. I’ll get some of the guys in here today to take all of this stuff to the donation center in town and call a contractor in to take care of the rest. None of it is major, so he should be able to finish it in a few days. You can start moving in as soon after that as you are ready,” he told her.

  “Really? That easy?” she laughed.

  “Yep. Ask and ye shall receive,” he told her.

  “Alright, I guess we better got to work then so I can earn my keep and you can pay for my demands,” she told him.

  He had no way of knowing just how much it would help her. Not only would it do away with her drive time, but it would also eliminate a lot of fuel costs. She hadn’t mentioned to him how much the bills were for her ambulance ride and hospital stay.

  Her insurance at her previous job had lapsed and the new insurance through him had not yet kicked in, so she received several ridiculous bills for full payment and very little in the way of a grace period.

  Just as he had told her it would be, the updates to the guest house were completed in only four days. It was perfect timing for her to be able to move out of her duplex, although she still had to pay her monthly rent and give notice. She had thought she would move her things in a little at a time, but Jack arranged for some of the guys from the ranch
to come and help her move everything at once. Within a week, she was settling in nicely in the guest house and finding that she really liked the country much more than she would have imagined. It was quiet and the evening sunsets were amazing from the small patio of her new abode. Best of all, it took her about one minute to walk from the house to the office for work.

  Chapter Seven

  It didn’t take long for Cecilia to settle into her new home. It wasn’t too big, just the right size for her with its two bedrooms and a single bath, a large living room, but best of all was the kitchen. She had wasted no time at all breaking in the new granite countertops, and it hadn’t take long at all for her to discover that Jack had a terrible sweet tooth.

  As time passed, they seemed to grow even more comfortable, with Jack popping in at random times to say hello, or to see if she needed anything. And every time he did, it sent her thoughts spiraling out of control.

  After a few weeks, Cecilia realized that she hadn’t seen anything from the hospital regarding the payment arrangements she had made with them.

  When she had told them that she needed a bit of time to pay, they had directed her to their financial counselor who was only willing to give her three months, but with rent now out the window, it was enough time to settle the debts from her visit. Picking up the phone, she called to ask them where she should mail the first payment since she hadn’t gotten the notice they had told her she would receive. She waited while the young woman on the other end looked it up in the system.

  “I show your balance has been cleared on all accounts,” the young woman told her.

  “What? What do you mean cleared?” She searched through her stack of mail for any sort of notice, but found nothing.

  “I mean they are all showing paid in full,” she replied.

  “Do you know who paid them and when?” she asked, although she already had a good idea.

  “No ma’am. It just says they were paid in full two weeks ago,” the woman replied. Cecilia thanked her and hung up. She glanced at her watch. Jack would be back from his trip to town in a few minutes. The longer she sat there, the angrier she got. By the time Jack arrived, she was fuming, barking at him the moment he stepped into the office.